APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION

From the very first, upon Our elevation to the chief Apostleship, We gladly
turned our mind and energies and directed all out thoughts to those matters
which concerned the preservation of a pure liturgy, and We strove with God's
help, by every means in our power, to accomplish this purpose. For, besides
other decrees of the sacred Council of Trent, there were stipulations for Us to
revise and re-edit the sacred books: the Catechism, the Missal and the Breviary.
With the Catechism published for the instruction of the faithful, by God's help,
and the Breviary thoroughly revised for the worthy praise of God, in order that
the Missal and Breviary may be in perfect harmony, as fitting and proper - for
its most becoming that there be in the Church only one appropriate manner of
reciting the Psalms and only one rite for the celebration of Mass - We deemed it
necessary to give our immediate attention to what still remained to be done, viz,
the re-editing of the Missal as soon as possible.

Hence, We decided to entrust this work to learned men of our selection. They
very carefully collated all their work with the ancient codices in Our Vatican
Library and with reliable, preserved or emended codices from elsewhere. Besides
this, these men consulted the works of ancient and approved authors concerning
the same sacred rites; and thus they have restored the Missal itself to the
original form and rite of the holy Fathers. When this work has been gone over
numerous times and further emended, after serious study and reflection, We
commanded that the finished product be printed and published as soon as
possible, so that all might enjoy the fruits of this labor; and thus, priests
would know which prayers to use and which rites and ceremonies they were
required to observe from now on in the celebration of Masses.

Let all everywhere adopt and observe what has been handed down by the Holy
Roman Church, the Mother and Teacher of the other churches, and let Masses not
be sung or read according to any other formula than that of this Missal
published by Us. This ordinance applies henceforth, now, and forever, throughout
all the provinces of the Christian world, to all patriarchs, cathedral churches,
collegiate and parish churches, be they secular or religious, both of men and of
women - even of military orders - and of churches or chapels without a specific
congregation in which conventual Masses are sung aloud in choir or read
privately in accord with the rites and customs of the Roman Church. This Missal
is to be used by all churches, even by those which in their authorization are
made exempt, whether by Apostolic indult, custom, or privilege, or even if by
oath or official confirmation of the Holy See, or have their rights and
faculties guaranteed to them by any other manner whatsoever.

This new rite alone is to be used unless approval of the practice of saying
Mass differently was given at the very time of the institution and confirmation
of the church by Apostolic See at least 200 years ago, or unless there has
prevailed a custom of a similar kind which has been continuously followed for a
period of not less than 200 years, in which most cases We in no wise rescind
their above-mentioned prerogative or custom. However, if this Missal, which we
have seen fit to publish, be more agreeable to these latter, We grant them
permission to celebrate Mass according to its rite, provided they have the
consent of their bishop or prelate or of their whole Chapter, everything else to
the contrary notwithstanding.

All other of the churches referred to above, however, are hereby denied the
use of other missals, which are to be discontinued entirely and absolutely;
whereas, by this present Constitution, which will be valid henceforth, now, and
forever, We order and enjoin that nothing must be added to Our recently
published Missal, nothing omitted from it, nor anything whatsoever be changed
within it under the penalty of Our displeasure.

We specifically command each and every patriarch, administrator, and all
other persons or whatever ecclesiastical dignity they may be, be they even
cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, or possessed of any other rank or
pre-eminence, and We order them in virtue of holy obedience to chant or to read
the Mass according to the rite and manner and norm herewith laid down by Us and,
hereafter, to discontinue and completely discard all other rubrics and rites of
other missals, however ancient, which they have customarily followed; and they
must not in celebrating Mass presume to introduce any ceremonies or recite any
prayers other than those contained in this Missal.

Furthermore, by these presents [this law], in virtue of Our Apostolic
authority, We grant and concede in perpetuity that, for the chanting or reading
of the Mass in any church whatsoever, this Missal is hereafter to be followed
absolutely, without any scruple of conscience or fear of incurring any penalty,
judgment, or censure, and may freely and lawfully be used. Nor are superiors,
administrators, canons, chaplains, and other secular priests, or religious, of
whatever title designated, obliged to celebrate the Mass otherwise than as
enjoined by Us.

We likewise declare and ordain that no one whosoever is forced
or coerced to alter this Missal, and that this present document cannot be
revoked or modified, but remain always valid and retain its full force
notwithstanding the previous constitutions and decrees of the Holy See, as well
as any general or special constitutions or edicts of provincial or synodal
councils, and notwithstanding the practice and custom of the aforesaid churches,
established by long and immemorial prescription - except, however, if more than
two hundred years' standing.

It is Our will, therefore, and by the same authority, We decree that, after
We publish this constitution and the edition of the Missal, the priests of the
Roman Curia are, after thirty days, obliged to chant or read the Mass according
to it; all others south of the Alps, after three months; and those beyond the
Alps either within six months or whenever the Missal is available for sale.
Wherefore, in order that the Missal be preserved incorrupt throughout the whole
world and kept free of flaws and errors, the penalty for nonobservance for
printers, whether mediately or immediately subject to Our dominion, and that of
the Holy Roman Church, will be the forfeiting of their books and a fine of one
hundred gold ducats, payable ipso facto to the Apostolic Treasury. Further, as
for those located in other parts of the world, the penalty is excommunication
latae sententiae, and such other penalties as may in Our judgment be imposed;
and We decree by this law that they must not dare or presume either to print or
to publish or to sell, or in any way to accept books of this nature without Our
approval and consent, or without the express consent of the Apostolic
Commissaries of those places, who will be appointed by Us. Said printer must
receive a standard Missal and agree faithfully with it and in no wise vary from
the Roman Missal of the large type (secundum magnum impressionem).

Accordingly, since it would be difficult for this present pronouncement to be
sent to all parts of the Christian world and simultaneously come to light
everywhere, We direct that it be, as usual, posted and published at the doors of
the Basilica of the Prince of the Apostles, also at the Apostolic Chancery, and
on the street at Campo Flora; furthermore, We direct that printed copies of this
same edict signed by a notary public and made official by an ecclesiastical
dignitary possess the same indubitable validity everywhere and in every nation,
as if Our manuscript were shown there. Therefore, no one whosoever is permitted
to alter this notice of Our permission, statute, ordinance, command, precept,
grant, indult, declaration, will, decree, and prohibition. Should know that he
will incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul.

Given at St. Peter's in the year of the Lord's Incarnation, 1570, on the 14th
of July of the Fifth year of Our Pontificate.

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About the Author

Matthew lives in the Greater Chicago Area. Matthew's personal interests include seeking a preservation of traditional Catholicism as practiced before the Second Vatican Council. He exclusively attends the Traditional Latin Mass and is a strong proponent of the work of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Matthew is available to assist any parishes seeking to start the Tridentine Latin Mass or those looking for religious education materials. Specific requests should be directed to Matthew through email, as should any and all advertising inquiries.